Christ My Song - 617
Why should these eyes be tearful - The Victory of Faith
(Ray Palmer/Johannes Thomas Rüegg)
The Victory of Faith.
"Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15,57)
1. Why should these eyes be tearful
for years so swiftly fled?
And why these feet be fearful
the onward path to tread?
Why should a chill come o'er me
at thoughts of death as near?
Or when I see before me
the silent gates appear? PDF - Midi
2. Behold my Saviour dying!
I hear his parting breath;
entombed I see him lying,
a captive held of death;
yet peacefully he sleepeth,
no foe disturbs him now,
and love Divine still keepeth
its impress on his brow.
3. But lo! the seal is broken!
rolled back the mighty stone;
in vain was set the token
that friend and foe should own;
the weeping Mary bending,
sees not her Saviour there;
but sons of light attending,
a joyful message bear.
4. The Lord is risen! He liveth,
the first-born from the dead;
to him the Father giveth
to be creation's head;
o'er all for ever reigning,
of death he holds the keys,
and hell, his might constraining,
obeys his high decrees.
5. Flies now the gloom that shaded
the vale of death to me;
the terrors that invaded
are lost, O Christ, in thee!
The grave, no more appalling,
invites me to repose;
asleep in Jesus falling,
to rise as Jesus rose.
6. O when to life awaking,
the night for ever gone,
my soul, this dust forsaking,
puts incorruption on;
Lord, in thy lustre shining,
in thine own beauty dressed,
my sun no more declining,
thy service is my rest!
1867.
Ray Palmer, The Poetical Works of Ray Palmer, 1876, 71-73.